[Word of the Day] Ribald

I love learning new words, don't you?

Today's new word came to me upon reading an article over at Cracked which features witty comebacks.

The scenario was of John Barrymore who walked into a ladies' room in his drunken state, and one of the ladies inside exclaimed, 'This is for the ladies!' as he was relieving himself.

With one hand still on his manhood, he explained, "And so, madam, is this." LOL

The author then goes on to say, "Sassy, ribald, but sophisticated." 

I think I've come across the word 'ribald' before, but I have not bothered to look up its meaning. This time, I did. And this is what I found:

I cannot wait to think of statements where I can use the word! Yay! New word for the day!

Pre-Valentine's Day musings

Dear friends,

Happy Valentine's month! 

Since the start of February, I've been asked several times whether or not I love Valentine's Day. I often answer that I do love Valentine's day - and the rest of February. In fact, I love LOVE!

I think I make most people cringe whenever I say that. I sound like such a love struck young lady, and I'd like to think that I AM a romantic. Probably quite love struck, too! I'm proud of it!

Those who know me would probably agree in a heartbeat. I (heart) romance from the tips of my toes to the roots of my hair, I feel giddy at the idea of romance, and blah blah blah. I also love LOVE songs, and get touched by the lyrics as though I've experienced what the singers are crying about.

[Artsy Fartsy & Stuff] Rock Lurch

ROCK LURCH

I guess you could call me inspired or call me inspired. But I wanted to create more LURCHIES so I created another one. Hahaha who's going to stop moi? All thanks go to Michal because she keeps encouraging me to do all these things. I'm loving it.

I've decided to keep the drawings in black and white because some friends and the husband preferred the black and white ones as opposed to the colored versions. But I could still give it a try. :) No harm in that, right?

So there you go, the next installment of my LURCHIES. Haha

I wonder what persona I will do next. Hmmm.. hippies come to mind.

[Artsy Fartsy & Stuff] Emo Lurch

EMO LURCH

I was totally inspired by my friend Michal, and created this. I was supposed to do this on MS Paint, but I had a hard time doing it. I suck at it, TBH. I still need to practice. Haha

So, this is Emo Lurch. 

I should color him ASAP.

I'm now quite inspired to make more Lurch drawings, and call them LURCHIES. hehe I kill me.

One day

This year has been surprising in several ways.

Somehow, I think that I have been seeing things a little bit clearly compared to last year. Sure, I still get bouts of loneliness, moodiness, and the usual anti-social bug, but I have learned to embrace these things as parts of myself. Also, I've come to believe that silence is a good thing.

Immersion in music and art have been helpful especially when it comes to putting things into perspective.

A week or so ago, I blogged about starting over. What I was not able to share was that 'starting over' was a theme that was clear to me throughout the year. My friend posted something about starting over, I read a blog post about starting over, as well as a slew of other details that normally I would not recognize. I got the message.

Another message I have been getting this year is on taking things slowly. Hang loose, breathe, and pause. Slowly but surely.

I have to admit that I normally get pissed when things don't go my way, and I prefer to blaze through life the way a fire consumes forests. This year, I understand that I need to learn how to take things slowly. People have been telling me this again and again and again, but I never learn. It did not sink in until now. *fingers crossed*

This brings me to the song that kept me crying as I was on my trip coming back to Phnom Penh. It's Matisyahu's song "One Day".

The song is about hope for an end to violence and wars. Although my connection to this song is not exactly the same as the initial meaning of the song, it is still able to reach into my heart and make me feel things. Several parts of the song hit me like a ton of bricks, and though I often end up tearing up, I still feel better in the end. 

As of the start of this year, I have felt quite helpless, hopeless, and probably a bit distraught. I have stopped wallowing in my misery and just hold on to the idea that things will be alright. 

Until then, I shall pray for more clarity, insight, and patience. 

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around 

...

One day.

One day (new album version) - Matisyahu

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Hello darkness, my old friend

photo credit: StefanoBonazzi

... I've come to talk with you again

These old walls have heard several thoughts. Lately, it has been creaking under the weight of all the thoughts. Like seams about to burst, there must be release. But will it ever come? 

Words are not forming from my lips. Ideas kept in my mind are merely released little by little through writing down thoughts. Then at night, it gets filled again.

Forgetting is not an option. What these walls need is a good cleaning, a good reorganization.

Sleep does not come easily. It simply is easier to converse with myself as no words need to be spoken. Such is the case with writing as well.

Converse with me in person and I either launch babble that I do not necessarily intend to speak, or go blank because of personal censorship. Aside from smiles and nods, what else is there to talk about? Nothing of importance, nothing at all.

I am tired. 

Is this depression?

Perhaps. All I know is that I prefer to let it be.

I truly love those who respect my silence.

Mayday Mayday Mayday!

Crisis. Such a cringe inducing word that even the most powerful presidents groan at the thought. 

Crisis.

Nothing shapes a person or a nation more than crisis, also goes under the name 'Stress.'

Today's Daily Post challenge forces asks us to be honest with ourselves and inspect how we react to crisis situations. It also asks us whether or not we are happy with the way we react when these situations come a'calling.

I took a quick 15 minute break to ponder about this in the loo, and I believe I have come up with a good answer to this question.

I've come face to face with several crisis situations throughout my entire life. Because of this, I have learned to react to crisis by facing it head on. Mostly.

Okay, so the given drama comes before facing the crisis. But I'd like to believe that is normal. In most circumstances, my usual reaction is this:

MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY! -> Oh, NO! -> I CRY... -> ENOUGH CRYING! -> BERSERKER BARRAGE!! -> ...

Something like that.

However, there are certain situations where that is not always the case. This often happens when my family is affected by the crisis. The above reaction is for situations when it affects myself especially when facing personal demons. But for situations like when my daughter cut her hand and she bled profusely, this was my reaction:

MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY! BLOOOD! -> Oh, NO! -> FIX/HEAL -> if HEAL does not work -> HOSPITAL! 

FYI: Blood makes me weak and queasy.

If its not health related, the reaction is more like:

MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY! -> Oh, NO! -> FIND WAY TO FIX IT

I often don't spend time wallowing in the crisis especially when its urgent. Somehow, I think I am proud to say that I have been lucky enough to find solutions and managed to survive.

To be perfectly honest, I am quite happy with how I react to crisis situations. I could have cowered or become totally useless, so I am happy with that.

However, I learned quite recently that there is something that I need to improve about my crisis response. That is trusting others. I've always had to deal with crisis response by myself throughout the years, so much so that I find it hard to lean on others or trust that others will be there. Maybe even now, I still don't believe in it THAT much. But I am learning.

I must always remember this: